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Introduction
A virtual workshop titled Integrating Systems and Sectors Toward Obesity Solutions, held April 6, 2020 (Part I), and June 30, 2020 (Part II), was convened by the Roundtable on Obesity Solutions, Health and Medicine Division, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The workshop introduced the concept of complex systems and the field of systems science, and explored systems science approaches to obesity solutions. Speakers provided an overview of systems science theories, approaches, and applications, highlighting examples from within and outside the obesity field. Presentations and discussions examined complex systems in society that have the potential to shape public health and well-being, and considered opportunities for systems change as they relate to obesity solutions. Specifically, the workshop explored factors that can influence obesity—such as (in)equity, relationships, connections, networks, capacity, power dynamics, social determinants, and political will—and how these factors can impact communications and cross-sector collaboration to address obesity. The workshop’s Statement of Task is in Box 1-1.1
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1 The workshop agenda, presentations, and other materials are available at https://www.nationalacademies.org/event/04-06-2020/integrating-systems-and-sectors-toward-obesity-solutions-part-1 (accessed October 5, 2020) and https://www.nationalacademies.org/event/06-30-2020/integrating-systems-and-sectors-toward-obesity-solutions-part-2 (accessed October 5, 2020).
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
Nicolaas (Nico) Pronk, president of HealthPartners Institute, chief science officer at HealthPartners, and chair of the Roundtable on Obesity Solutions, welcomed workshop participants and provided a brief overview of the roundtable, explaining that it engages leaders and voices from diverse sectors (e.g., health care, health insurance, academia, business, education, child care, government, media, philanthropy, nonprofit) to help solve the nation’s obesity crisis. Through meetings, public workshops, reports, and four innovation collaboratives,2 he continued, the roundtable provides a venue for ongoing dialogue on critical and emerging issues in obesity prevention, as well as treatment and weight maintenance.
Pronk noted that since the roundtable commenced in 2014, its discussions and publications have covered a number of topics including the scientific basis for obesity, research gaps, the current state of obesity solutions, and ways to drive further progress and overcome challenges in implementation and scalability. In particular, the roundtable has highlighted promising multisector policy, systems, and environmental approaches, with a focus on sustainable, equitable strategies for addressing obesity-related disparities.
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2 Innovation collaboratives engage participants with similar interests and responsibilities in cooperative activities to advance aspects of a roundtable’s Statement of Task. These ad hoc convening activities foster information sharing and collaboration toward the roundtable’s aims.
In 2019, Pronk continued, the roundtable explored broader crosscutting issues, including communication strategies and health equity approaches. These issues, he said, led the roundtable to adopt and apply a multisector systems perspective on ways to advance, diffuse, and sustain effective obesity solutions. He explained that the roundtable’s 2020 plans include developing a systems map and holding a follow-on workshop addressing how systems modeling approaches can inform obesity research and solutions. These activities will culminate in a strategic roadmap to action in which various stakeholders can identify places to act, intervene, and coordinate with others in the system.
ORGANIZATION OF THIS PROCEEDINGS
This proceedings follows the order of the workshop agendas (see Appendix A), chronicling its sessions in individual chapters. Chapter 2 presents an overview of systems science theories, approaches, and applications. Chapter 3 explores complex systems in society and contributing factors that can influence obesity, including power dynamics, structural racism, relationships (e.g., interpersonal, familial, community, professional), resources, place-based issues, policy, and political will. Chapter 4 examines how complex systems may influence obesity and considers opportunities for systems change as they relate to obesity solutions. Finally, Chapter 5 highlights research activities that apply systems thinking to address obesity and population health and well-being. In addition to Appendix A, three other appendixes are included. Appendix B is a list of acronyms and abbreviations used in this proceedings; Appendix C includes a glossary and a bibliography of background resources related to systems science theories, approaches, and applications; and Appendix D provides the biographical sketches of the workshop speakers and the planning committee members.
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